you know. back when mj got picked for aus a, i defended the selection purely because MJ was gonna get to play plenty of games at the WACA next season so we may as well have as many games at other arenas to judge him by, and avoid getting too excited at the performances at his favourite ground

3 games at the waca and he's back in the frame. boy is my face red

The fact that MJ back in contention indicates that selectors are concerned about picking a bowling attack with limited Test experience against South Africa. Apart from Siddle and Hilf the rest of bowlers are inexperienced at Test level. If they drop Hilf for Starc. Then Australia have a very inexperienced bowling attack.

If they were playing Sri Lanka next, they would just go with youth and inexperience.

I think it is wrong approach, you never gain experience by sitting on the sidelines. You have to start somewhere, even if it against one of best teams in the world.

The man, the mountain, the Mathews. The greatest all rounder since Keith Miller. (Y)

Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is still learning his craft but has amazing skill in his fingers and wrist. Hopefully he will get an opportunity in the starting XI before the summer is done. The Bushrangers must pick him and nurture him for the future of Australian cricket. If they don't, I know a team across the border that surely will.

The system as it stands does not promote excellence. Or even solid, consistent cricket. What I find incredible is that I haven't played grade cricket since about 2000 yet from my mates still playing and other guys I know still in the system, still hearing all the same old stories.

This is why I was sceptical when Chuck Berry was saying he wanted to see SA cricketers go back to play grade cricket, head out to training, etc. Not of his motives but what they actually stood to gain out of it i.e. not much. I notice he's not said anything along those lines for a while and I can't blame the guy. It's a complicated mix of club politics, old mentalities from **** coaches and easy runs/wickets against **** teams which results in a system producing teams full of downhill skiers. If you show some flash and talent when you're 14, you'll be picked in higher grades no matter what else you do until you're dead/a club legend. Late bloomers or even the slight possibility of being one, go play footy. One or two good performances, write your ticket for the rest of the season.

SACA basically gave up on club cricket years ago and it's not hard to see why. SA cricket is basically what the Australian Test side would have been like if Greg Chappell was in charge of selection. I'm pretty keen to hear anything from Eloquentia or Riggins, etc. or anyone closer to the action which contradicts the above because, like I said, I'm not in a club any more.

EDIT: It's hard to enumerate the exact problems, of course, but I think a great barometer of the level of coaching these guys get at grade level is in the standard of fielding and their non-specialist skill from locals picked to play for SA. When was the last time an SA quick could hold a bat or field? Gillespie?

It's unfortunate really - I believe the problems lie above the grades though, not within. The setup itself achieves what it sets out to, however there are several key issues from above which severely impact the development.

There's a lad who opens the batting in As for my club who averages 9 in about 3 seasons across A/B/C grade. He's 16 or something. The kid is being ruined playing there (although there's a lot to work with) and should go back to B grade at least. But nup, the SA policy is play him there as long as possible.

Time and time again we see prospects make the Shield then struggle to make the grade - this is a direct result of poor management. Cranmer, Delmont, Smith, Bailey, Dougall all spring to mind. I do assure you, however - that the grade sides do work incredibly hard to achieve a high standard of performance and development.

What is the TV umpire rule in the One Day Comp? Is it basically the umpire asks the TV umpire to check any decisions they are 50/50 on? Or is it where all decisions are reviewed by the TV umpire for accuracy?

Forrest was correctly given out LBW on the discretion of the third umpire today - however other LBW decisions were never considered. The Fox Sports team debated it throughout the coverage, and yet didn't explain it very well.

Just noticed the relative ease of Kelvin Smith's knock. The kid's 17 or 18 I think and made a good 170 off 260 balls against an attack of Abbott, Bills, Sandhu, Zampa and Doran - all of whom I think are pretty good bowlers.

Good to see some actual South Australians coming through the ranks.

Kelvin is related to James Smith right? Let's hope for SA's sake that the guy is more consistent than his older brother..